The New York Giants thought they’d gotten the best years out of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence when they traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a 2026 1st-round pick (No. 10 overall) on April 18.
That might not be the case.
After signing a 1-year, $28 million contract extension with the Bengals, Lawrence has been the star of training camp and seems to have regained the form that made him 1 of the NFL’s dominant defensive players during his 7 seasons with the Giants.
“(Lawrence) has been the best player in camp,” Locked on Bengals podcast host Joe Goldberry said on Monday. “He has been absolutely DESTROYING them. … He really looks like he’s back to the 2022/2023 dominant player.”
The Bengals’ offensive line — already a suspect unit — has been exposed by Lawrence.
“Dexter Lawrence is TERRORIZING Bengals camp,” Goldberry wrote on his official X account on Monday. “I put together the flashes captured by local media into one video.”
“This may sound crazy, but I think Dexter Lawrence has been even better than I expected,” Bengals reporter James Rapien wrote on his official X account. “And my expectations for him were SKY HIGH …”
Giants Seemed Quick to Pull Trigger on Trade
didn’t have to think twice about pulling the trigger on a trade that sent NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for Cincinnati’s 2026 1st-round pick.
The Giants promptly used the pick on vaunted Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10 overall after ushering Lawrence out the door and to a team where, according to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, he’s become 1 of the NFL’s veteran additions fans “can’t wait” to see with their new team in 2026.
Lawrence has spent the majority of his career being called 1 of the NFL’s best players on 1 of its worst teams — something he can change the narrative on in Cincinnati with a star quarterback in Joe Burrow and star wide receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
“Adding Lawrence was costly, but it will give Cincinnati a difference-making defender who can lead by example,” Knox wrote on July 2. ” … Lawrence should help the defense, which ranked 31st overall last season, to gain some valuable confidence over the summer. If Lawrence can help Cincinnati’s defense be even average in the regular season, the Bengals will have a real chance to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022.”
Lawrence Aiming to Regain Place Among NFL’s Elite
When Los Angeles Rams superstar and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Donald retired following the 2023 season, Lawrence became the standard for NFL interior defensive linemen.
Lawrence, 28 years old, was rated No. 1 at the position in a poll of NFL executives, coaches, and scouts before the 2025 season.
Until 2026, he played his entire career with the Giants after they selected him in the 1st round (No. 17 overall) of the 2019 NFL draft out of Clemson. In 7 NFL seasons, he’s a 2-time NFL All-Pro and 3-time Pro Bowler.
“Dominating the run was always on the agenda for Lawrence,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote in July 2025. “He has the balance, power, flexibility, footwork and acumen to post big sack numbers. In the past, the knock on Lawrence was that he missed too many near-sacks. No longer. Lawrence racked up quarterback takedowns while facing a 74.5% double-team rate, higher than any other interior lineman. The Giants saw him improve his ability to transition off blocks, be great on the move and finish takedowns.”
Former Giants All-Pro Returns to ‘Dominant Form’ With New Team